Introduction:
When we look at this fifth event at the cross, Jesus the Christ was still in the loving business. His whole being was still focused and entrapped in loving others.
Here Jesus sets the stage for what we should do for our parents and grand parents. And that takes me to my only point for this scripture.
Development:
First Point: Just Because Of Love
Jesus the Christ was putting into place the standards that we as Christians should do for our parents. Jesus was making preparations from the cross for His mother, Mary. He was in complete control of Himself and His mind. He was completely aware of what was going on inside of Him and was also completely aware of what was going on around Him.
Now there standing at the cross of Jesus was His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. And there also stood John the Apostle. John the Apostle was the half cousin of Jesus Christ and his mother Salome being Mary’s sister (comparison Matt. 27:56; Mark 16:1; and John 19:25).
Jesus had a deep love for His mother. Jesus’ love for his mother was apparently shown here because He was concerned about her well being once He was gone. When Jesus said, “Dear woman, here is your son,” Jesus was letting His mother, Mary know that He was leaving her to be cared for by the disciple John the Apostle.
When Jesus said to the disciple, “Here is your mother,” He was letting John the Apostle know that He was giving him the charge of caring for their mother. John wasn’t rich but he had a few bucks tucked away and had his own crib. He was financially able to sustain himself and the mother of Jesus the Christ. By Jesus the Christ having brothers, there must have been something special about John for Jesus to give him the charge in taking care of His mother. Looking at the scriptures and biblical timelines, Joseph, the wife and earthly father of Jesus probably was dead at the time.
John was not only doing what Jesus had requested, but also what God Himself tells us to do. In the book of 1 Timothy 5:3-4 it says, “Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.”
What that scripture is saying to us is that, children are to care for their parents and grandparents. This is a strong statement. In fact, the very first duty of a child is to be pious at home.
I know that there are some of you sitting in here right now as well as myself, have taken the charge to care for a mother, father, grandmother or grandfather. When you sacrifice and do as the bible says, God on His throne in heaven honors that.
I’m so glad that God put this message in my spirit. I too took care of my momma from August 4, 1985 until her death, January 28, 1999. Some of you right now that are listening to the sound of my voice, also took care of a mother or father until death.
And I know without a shadow of a doubt that God honors that sacrifice. When we help our seniors when they are unable to help themselves, God and heaven smiles at you.
Just because of love, Jesus saw it not robbery to make provisions for His mother before he died.
Just because of love, Jesus took the time while he was dying to consider a thief on the cross.
Just because of love, we do the things we do to make our parents proud of us.
Just because of love, when our parents are ill we take care of them.
Just because of love, when our bodies are exhausted, we still hang on in there and are of service to our parents.
Just because of love, nothing is too good for our parent to have.
Just because of love, we gave our lives to our Father in Heaven.
Just because of love, we can say For God I Live and For God I Die.
Just because of love, we can say He’s my bridge over troubled water.
Just because of love, we can say He’s my rock, my sword and shield.
Just because of love, we can say when my enemies encamped around me to eat up my flesh, they are going to stumble and fall.
Just because of love, we can say, Father I Stretch My Hands To Thee, No Other Help I Know.
Just because of love, when death is staring us in the face we can say, “Thou I Walk Through The Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Will Fear No Evil for Thou Art With Me.”
Just because of love, we can stand flat footed and look the devil square in the face and say, Take Your Best Shot, This War Isn’t About Me Anyway. It’s about the Glory of God, The Power of God, it’s about the Kingdom of God.
Just because of love, we have three weapons of mass destruction. We have the Father, We Have the Son, and We Have the Holy Ghost.
